The Wesley Research Institute

Current clinical trials

Cardiovascular disease

SHIFT – This study is reviewing the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment for heart failure
Criteria
- Heart failure
- Admission to hospital in the last 12 months because of heart failure
Exclusions
- Participants with heart palpitations
- Participants with heart valve disease
FREEDOM – The purpose of this study is to compare two different methods of treatment for participants with diabetes and coronary artery disease in more than one heart vessel: coronary artery bypass graft surgery and medication-eluting stents
Criteria
- 18 years of age or older
- Diagnosed diabetes (Type I or II)
- Symptoms of Angina needing investigation
Exclusions
- Surgery or angioplasty within last 6 months
- Stroke within last 6 months
CRESCENDO – The objective of this study is to see whether a new medication called rimonabant can help lower the chances of having either a fatal or non-fatal heart attack or stroke
Criteria
- 55 years of age or older
- Waist circumference of more than 102cm for males and 88cm for females
- At least:
  - 1 risk factor for coronary heart disease (such as heart attack within the last year, stable angina, cerebrovascular disease, symptomatic peripheral vascular disease; OR
  - 2 of the following risk factors: Diabetic, metabolic syndrome, renal artery disease, history of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, males over 65 years of age, females over 70 years of age
Exclusions
- Low calorie diet or weight loss surgery within last 6 months
- Previous use of Rimonabant
- History of severe depression
ATLAS – The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment for heart disease (Acute Coronary Syndrome)
Criteria
- Acute Coronary Syndrome (symptoms include chest pain)
Exclusions
- Taking Warfarin
- Planned angioplasty
ARISTOTLE – The objective of this study is to compare a new treatment to standard treatment (wafarin) in the prevention of stroke
Criteria
- 18 years of age or older
- Ongoing irregular heart beat documented by ECG, OR irregular heart beat on 2 or more occasions at least 2 weeks apart and documented by ECG
- One or more risk factors for stroke (ie. Smoking, diabetes, obesity, family history of stroke, artery disease)
Exclusions
- Untreated hypertension
- Planned major surgery
- Recent stroke
- Taking more than 165mg of Aspirin per day
IVABRADINE – to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an oral medication called Ivabradine for the treatment of angina
500 people will take part in this study to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of a new oral tablet called Ivabradine, which reduces patient’s heart rate to treat angina.

The trial will take place over three years with consultations with a doctor every six months to check participants’ health, including heart tracing and taking blood pressure and blood tests. The trial involves:
1. A twice-daily 5mg tablet of Ivabradine at 12-hour intervals. This may increase over time (to 5 mg, 7.5 mg, or 10 mg) if doctors deem it necessary.
2. Study participants keeping a record throughout the study, noting each angina attack, the number of short-acting nitrate tablets taken, and all side effects. This notebook is brought in to each visit.
This is a double-blind study, which means neither study participants nor the staff involved in the study know which drug participants are receiving.
ZOLIP – This study will test the effect of a new medication, combined with diet, in lowering both cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Criteria
- Participants with high cholesterol, treated or untreated, with coronary artery disease; OR
- High cholesterol, treated or untreated, with non coronary artery disease with 2 or more risk factors
Exclusions
- Diabetics
- Participants taking Warfarin, Amiodarone, Verapamil, Cardizem or Steroids
CHAMPION – This study compares the effectiveness of a new treatment versus the standard treatment (clopidogrel) in participants who are having a procedure to unblock their coronary arteries (a percutaneous coronary intervention)
Criteria
- Participants needing emergency admission to hospital with acute chest pain requiring angiogram
Exclusions
- Planned angioplasty
- Taking Warfarin
ACACIA – assessing the current management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (chest pain) in Australia
This is an Australia-wide audit which involves 4,000 patients from both city and country hospitals. The study will identify the current management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (chest pain) at admission to hospital, during in-patient stay, at discharge, and six and 12 months post discharge.

This study aims to show how well patients are being treated for chest pain in accordance with the national guidelines.
The Wesley Research Institute, in collaboration with the Flinders Cardiology Research Centre in Adelaide, will study 154 patients treated at The Wesley Hospital.

The audit involves:
1. Review of all hospital records from admission to discharge.
2. Further information collected from outpatient / clinic records at six and 12 months after discharge. No additional hospital or clinical visits are expected from patients in this study.